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The Ravenloft Files Vol.12: The Shadow Walkers - The Keepers of the Vault Pt. III

After knocking on the door, we were eventually greeted by a man named Birch. In addition to being the caretaker of the lighthouse, he was a cleric of some goddess who's name I can't recall, but who I believe was popular among witches. At first he did not seem very eager to help us. That was until we described the nature of our arrival on the peninsula. Then he invited us in to stay for the night and gave us all something to eat. He also gave Midnight a place to stay, and some oats and water. In exchange, we provided him with company and entertainment.

He told us that we had somehow arrived on a small island in the middle of a vast sea. Yet we had never crossed over any body of water what so ever. The island was called Graben Island. But none of us had ever heard of it before. The nearby village, where the priest's church and his fellow clergymen were, was called Seeheim. But he advised us to go to another larger village nearby in the morning. Like the island, it was called Graben Village. Birch gave us a little information about it, including a very brief, recent history about two adventuring bands called the Wanderers and the Seekers who had come to the island over the course of the past few years and dealt with a great evil that had stolen upon the noble family for which the island had been named.

Day Two - Just as Birch had advised, we set out in the morning with directions to Graben Village. Now aware that the lighthouse stood at the northern end of the island, we headed south, keeping the towering cliff to the west within sight.

Still loaded down with a considerable amount of treasure taken from Castle Tristenoira, we were fortunate to have a sturdy horse such as Midnight to help carry the load. Though I would strongly advise against ever referring to the horse as a pack mount. For Midnight seems to have an uncanny knack of reading minds, and takes great exception to being called a pack mount.

Due in part to the weight of the load carried by Midnight, Angus led him on foot for most of the way. But after a few miles out in the cold, it seemed that Midnight was becoming restless. Admittedly, we have spent the last six months in places that were not exactly ideal for a horse used to running free in the countryside. And for a horse as headstrong as Midnight, perhaps we should be thankful we did not hear more complaints from him. But apparently the sight of an open snow covered field still as unmarked and pristine as the day the snow fell, made Midnight yearn to run. So Angus was more than happy to oblige him. It had also been quite sometime for Angus since he had enjoyed a good ride.

After lightening the load a bit, Angus took off on Midnight quickly reaching a gallop, and began a long circuit around the field. Halfway around they skirted along the edge of a creek lined with trees. Angus was enjoying the ride so much that he almost failed to notice a man standing by the trees, smiling at him, his hands on his hips. He caught sight of the man just as they were about to pass him by, and quickly brought Midnight to a stop.